Glad I took my big scope today as the Smew was way off on the north bank of the north lake. Took half an hour to find. Never been to this site before but it's ringed with trees and bushes and only the anglers' pitches provide any decent viewing. Kingfisher amongst other common species seen
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Tuesday 27th of October 2015 08:52:59 PM
Doc Brewster said
Tue Oct 27 11:38 AM, 2015
Early morning visit again to the common. The female Smew was still present out in the middle if the big pool N.of the main track, constantly diving & feeding with a small group of Tufted Ducks, and was a pain to find, taking over an hour to locate, it could have been tucked under bankside vegetation initially too. Its favoured bay was heavily fished this morning hence its relocation to a different part of the pool. At least 12 Wigeon were present as well as 2+Little Grebes and 6 Great Crseted Grebes. 2 Redwings flew over and both Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers were present. 11 Lapwings flew over the small pool and a Kingfisher flew over the big pool. Common Gull numbers seem to be increasing with plenty of Black-headed Gulls too, maybe time for a Mediterranean Gull methinks
The other usual birds were around with Jays especially plentiful, both seen & heard. A pleasant morning in the sun on my 'new' patch!!
Doc Brewster said
Mon Oct 26 9:58 AM, 2015
No problem John
I agree it is a female Smew, been there 3 winters (if you read back in my posts!!). The pagers tend to like to put 'redhead', I put it out as female on my grapevine. There have been several reports from Cheshire sites for a number of years now regarding Ruddy Shelducks & we don't know whether they refer to more than one bird, so hard to say which this one is.
The fishermen in the E.bay viewing location had been there from early doors, how dare they A walk a bit further round gives a great viewing location from another fishing peg.
John Watson said
Mon Oct 26 8:40 AM, 2015
At 15:15 yesterday, had a look at N Pool
- Smew (smart redhead, presumably female if it is the same bird as last winter) - Ruddy Shelduck (female, presumably the same female as at Winsford Bottom Flash last winter)
Both birds drifting about N Pool, west side, though we saw them from NE corner. Note, fishermen occupying usual East Bay location. Birds could be viewed close-up from W side
Also:
- Green Woodpecker (h)
- 2 Fieldfare & Squirrel in small tree across field from Eastern parking spot
Thanks for the news, Doc
-- Edited by John Watson on Monday 26th of October 2015 08:45:04 AM
Doc Brewster said
Sun Oct 25 1:18 PM, 2015
Saw on the pagers a report of a drake Bufflehead in Cumbria and was tempted, but seeing as it wasn't a lifer & the escape potential was high we decided to do a 'local patch' walk instead. A good decision as it turns out as the Bufflehead bore a plastic ring marking it as an escape!
Got down pretty early to Newchurch Common and soon located the redhead Smew lurking in the edge of the SW corner of the Big Lake, it later was feeding out in the middle performing for the relatively large numbers of birders & photographers on site today, the biggest number that I have ever seen down there!! A scan of the lake soon had my second 'find' of the autumn/winter in the shape of a Ruddy Shelduck with the Canada Geese. Again later on the assembled throng seemed to be enjoying this bird too. Bothe scarce ducks were duly reported in to RBA Pagers once I could get mobile reception (which for me is q.patchy across this site).
Other birds of note were 3 Fieldfares flying over (my first this winter end), a Green Woodpecker again in its usual area, 2 or possibly 3 Kingfishers, 12 Wigeon, 10 Gadwall, 8 Cormorants, 5 Great Crested Grebes & 4 Little Grebes. Usuals included Common Gull, Jay, increased numbers of Tufted Ducks, 2 Greylag Geese and a Buzzard.
That's 2 good ducks found so far this year end, looking forward to more visits
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 25th of October 2015 01:19:22 PM
Doc Brewster said
Sat Oct 24 10:55 PM, 2015
Had a message texted to me to say that the redhead Smew was still present on the Big Pool N.of the main track here today
Doc Brewster said
Thu Oct 22 1:24 PM, 2015
Popped down again to spend a sunny morning at Newchurch Common. At first sight the signs looked bad, many of the Tufted Ducks had shipped out and no Wigeon at all on the Big Lake. A Teal out in the centre was a start but I thought that I had better check the Small Pool. A few Tufted Ducks were on there as well as 4 Gadwall, 4 Wigeon and 2 Little Grebes, but still no Smew.
Over 50 Redwings were flying about over the track as well as 20+Goldfinch and a mixed tit flock containing lots of Long-tailed Tits. A Robin was chasing a Migrant Hawker Dragonfly in the west fishermans car park with no chance of catching it! I walked to other viewpoints to see more of the Big Lake & eventually found the redhead Smew tucked away near the overhanging vegetation in the bay at the SE end of the lake. Settling down on a nearby fishing peg I enjoyed stunning close views and got some nice pics of this scarce sawbill. Despite a thorough search no sign of Joel's Scaup and even my very white-faced Tufted Ducks had left the lake, leaving this samller flock behind. Hopefully the Scaup will return when more Tufted Ducks return, I'll keep an eye out for that and any other goodies. Other birds on the lake were the usual suspects, Grea Crested Grebes (feeding a well grown young bird with several sizeable fish!), hundreds of Coot, 60 Canada Geese and a few Common Gulls amongst the Black-headed Gulls.
The Smew was still in the same bay when I left at 11.55am, and the only significant additions to the daylist were Nuthatch and Bullfinch, both by the main track. I intend to keep an eye on the site all winter now since the 'Marbury Patch' has enough dedicated watchers!! Hope to meet a few more Forum Members down there, please say hello & we can do some birding together I hope
Doc Brewster said
Wed Oct 21 9:58 AM, 2015
Well done on the Scaup, Joel, I checked the Tufties on the day I found the Smew & all that there was present were several very white-faced females, so this bird may have arrived more recently than my first visit. I have seen the pics and it's a great find, all credit to you. The aythya flock does build up as winter progresses so for anyone going there is always the chance of a 'find', feels like the old days when my patch was Chorlton WP in its heyday of 1000+ aythya flocks.
On a more flippant note, Joel, what type of jugs did the 7 Mute Swans have?
Joel Tragen said
Tue Oct 20 10:18 PM, 2015
Late report for Sunday. 1:50 till 5:00 The red headed smew was first viewed asleep in the middle of the pool and to the western side of the middle but the way I found it was unusual... So I arrived and went straight to the area sticking out on the east side to eat lunch and scan the lake with the best panoramic view. As I arrived I quickly picked up on a pale aythya in the east bay, I decided to move around the lake to the middle of the east bay and got great views of it. I got some nice photos which were later identified as a first winter drake greater scaup. As I was watching I noticed the smew behind it which I thendecided to move around the lake to the south side where it had apparently woken up and was feeding in the east bay. I rushed around to the best point on. The east side and saw it fishing 2 meters out from the shore. Other birds of note. 2 little grebes 7 great crested grebes 7 common gulls 19 black headed gullsl A pair of gadwall 2 female wigeon 7 mute swans with 2 jugs and I accidentally stumbled across a headless swan with its chest ripped open, couldn't see legs or rings. 9 moorhens Many coots 1 greylag goose 37 Canada geese 78 tufted ducks 7 mallards As I arrived 3 cormorants which circled high above the lake flying off South. 19 lapwings flew off from a field South of the lake circled very low over the lake before landing on the field North. 1 kingfisher 179+ redwing (it was all I could fit into on photo.) flew over circled and landed on a field to the east. 1 fieldfare 1 kestrel Brilliant day out and I must visit this site a lot more this winter than last.
steven burke said
Tue Oct 20 8:59 PM, 2015
a mooch around from 1.30-5.30pm, 48 species seen.
redhead smew, showing well in the northern corner of the big pool (where I came in from) & spent most of the time along the western side throughout the time I was there. 89 tufted duck 302+ coot 5 wigeon 3 teal 1 gadwall 50 Canada goose 3 greylag goose 9 mute swan, 1 adult attacking a juvenile & trying to get on its back, I presume to try & drown it, it got away eventually. 9 great crested grebe 3 little grebe 1 buzzard 1 sparrowhawk 4 cormorant 1 great spotted woodpecker green woodpecker, heard only 2 treecreeper 5 jay 2 lapwing, over 73 redwing 3 fieldfare 2 pied wagtail 1 grey wagtail 4 bullfinch 5 chaffinch 2 linnet 8 siskin several goldcrest around plus all the usuals.
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Fri Oct 16 9:06 PM, 2015
Smew 1 redhead. Little Grebe 1 Great Crested Grebes Tufted Ducks Wigeons 15+ Skylark 1 singing. Siskins Goldcrests Green Woodpecker 1 Nuthatch 1 Coots Mute Swans Greylag Geese Buzzard 1
etc.etc.etc.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 16th of October 2015 09:15:25 PM
Mark Jarrett said
Wed Oct 14 2:55 PM, 2015
Doc Brewster wrote:
The star bird by far was a redhead Smew, the returning bird from last winter...
Thanks for the 'heads up' again Doc. Also only a few minutes away from me, I went for a look and to try and get a very decent year tick. The Smew duly obliged, still favouring the east Bay Area.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Oct 13 2:44 PM, 2015
Not wanting to head out too far, after coming down with a horrid cold but wanting to make the most of the October sunshine, we headed out to Newchurch Common again. The star bird by far was a redhead Smew, the returning bird from last winter in with the growing Tufted Duck flock. A single Wigeon was in the same flock, all on the Big Pool north of the track through the site that continues on from Novia Scotia Lane, where you park. So that is the usual spot for anyone who went last winter! Also on this pool were Great Crested Grebes with well grown young, Little Grebes and a Cormorant. On the smaller fishing pool south of the track there were a couple of Gadwall, more Tufted Ducks and a Common Gull with the Black-headed Gulls. Plenty of Jays were in evidence in this oak-rich area and a yaffling Green Woodpecker flew over the main track.
As winter progresses this site will keep getting better, and I will keep checking it, but nice to see that the Smew is already back in residence
Doc Brewster said
Sun May 24 4:28 PM, 2015
Seeing as how it brightened up a little this afternoon I decided to visit one of my nearest sites, Newchurch Common, Gull Pool and The Whitegate Way.
Best bird was a Cuckoo, calling very frequently all the time I was on site and showing over the Big Pool (the one the Smew favoured) moving between the bankside trees and the island several times. At the SW corner of the Fishing Pool a Garden warbler was singing and showed well in the willows. A Sedge Warbler was singing by the entrance track but only as I arrived, not when I left. Several Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs made up the complement of warblers for the day. Other birds of note were flyover singles of Curlew and Lapwing and on the pools Great Crested and Little Grebes.
Rob Creek said
Mon Apr 6 10:07 PM, 2015
Quick visit seeing as though we were only down the road at Winsford.
Mainly usuals including... Plenty of Blackbirds Robins Great Tit Blue Tit Rooks Jay (2 heard, 1 seen) 2 Common Buzzard - both perched up in separate trees 1 Bullfinch Few Chaffinch Great Crested Grebe at least 4 Gadwall Tufted Duck Lots of Woodpigeon Green Woodpecker (heard only) 1 Great Black-backed Gull
Rhys Richards said
Sat Jan 17 5:54 PM, 2015
Good views of the Smew out on the water around 10.30ish, looked great in the sunshine!!
Joel Tragen said
Sun Jan 11 5:34 PM, 2015
John Williams wrote:
AM
Amongst the Tufted Ducks were the 2 females with prominent white bases to their beaks, one certainly shows a tuft, the other has a much
rounder/smoother head. If only she stayed on the surface long enough to check her other features.
I noticed the same thing that only one of them had a tuft it would be interesting to get a photo of her to have a better look at.
Rob Creek said
Sun Jan 11 3:30 PM, 2015
It certainly is an impressive place John, myself and Simon Gough also commented on the number of Wildfowl around the place. Well worth another visit. Well done Joel on the Green Woodpecker!
John Williams said
Sun Jan 11 1:55 PM, 2015
AM
Thanks to the couple who pointed out the Smew to me, it was tucked into the NW corner of the pool and I was focussing too much on
the area around the island. I later followed the path further along the Eastern bank and got great views of the bird.
Also on the pool, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Little Grebe, 60+ Wigeon, 11 Great Crested Grebes and a single drake Pochard.
2 Buzzards flew over and flushed all the gulls. 30 Redwings were resting with Starlings on a nearby big oak.
A charm of 16 Goldfinches on the alders.
Amongst the Tufted Ducks were the 2 females with prominent white bases to their beaks, one certainly shows a tuft, the other has a much
rounder/smoother head. If only she stayed on the surface long enough to check her other features.
It's the first time I've been to this mere and I'm impressed by the amount of waterfowl, and by the extensive area of gorse in the NE corner.
I'll be back.
Joel Tragen said
Sat Jan 10 4:14 PM, 2015
Hi thank you all for your help. I went down there today and after a hour of searching around we finally found the smew with a group of tufted ducks. Other birds of note were: 1 female green woodpecker(I got two photos but they aren't very good) 17 stock doves (in a field with around 300 jackdaws and a large mixed thrush flock) 1 shelduck 2 bullfinchs 1 goldcrest 1 nuthatch 2 jays 5 great crested grebe 10 teal Lots of wigeon 8 gadwall 2 cormarants 1 headless black headed gull and a dead coot. Lots of tufted duck including the one that has been mentioned however there is now 2 of them. 2 buzzards.
Doc Brewster said
Sat Jan 10 10:01 AM, 2015
Joel Tragen wrote:
Thank you every one for your help (it seems like Dunham Massey is the place to go). Also does anyone know if the smew has been seen recently. Finally I have had a look on google maps to see which pool it in but there are four in that area, from previous posts, I guess that it is on the big pool but is that the very biggest one with an island in the south-East bank. Sorry for all the questions.
-- Edited by Joel Tragen on Friday 9th of January 2015 10:13:36 PM
Joel look back at my last post there's a link to Streetmap & it says which pool the Smew is on, it IS the largest pool, N.of or to the R.of the main track that continues on from Novia Scotia Lane. No news was put out but I heard on a grapevine that it was there yesterday. Hope this helps
Mark Dean said
Fri Jan 9 10:43 PM, 2015
Hi Joel, Best check if Dunham Massey is open Tomorrow 10th Jan,as I have heard that they are checking on the wind first thing to see if they are going to open. This follows on from an incident I believe they had a few years back where a Beech tree was blown over and killed someone (from what I remember?) All the best and Good Birding from Mark
Joel Tragen said
Fri Jan 9 8:45 PM, 2015
Thank you every one for your help (it seems like Dunham Massey is the place to go). Also does anyone know if the smew has been seen recently. Finally I have had a look on google maps to see which pool it in but there are four in that area, from previous posts, I guess that it is on the big pool but is that the very biggest one with an island in the south-East bank. Sorry for all the questions.
-- Edited by Joel Tragen on Friday 9th of January 2015 10:13:36 PM
Mark Dean said
Fri Jan 9 7:36 PM, 2015
Unfortunately your probably correct then Rob about the Water Voles,it was a long shot,its just that the very few times that I have seen them,and that is a few years now,I think it was in Millers dale ,I did hear a similar plopping sound as they entered the water,and I think that is a characteristic way to know that they are about? Also Jason who I was with said he got a glimpse of a small mammal,although very brief,before it went into the water. As regards Green woodpecker I know that they can be surprisingly hard to see.I remember scanning around some anthills where they are known to be,and not seeing any,so walked on when one flew up from where I had been looking,give out it's call,and landed on a tree where it stayed still allowing me to get good views,so I could not see it on the ground at all.It is in fact, either in a tree or flying where I have seen them,I don't think ever on the ground. Good Birding to everyone. Forgot to say we parked our car at the end of Nova Scotia Lane,there is a bit of a lay by there with room for maybe 4 or 5 cars or so.
-- Edited by TELESMAN on Friday 9th of January 2015 07:40:41 PM
Rob Creek said
Fri Jan 9 2:28 PM, 2015
Joel Tragen wrote:
Hi I was thinking of heading down at the weekend and would like some tips for seeing the green woodpeckers (I haven't seen any for a while). Also where would be the best place to park the car. Cheers
Hi Joel, As Simon and Doc mention its a tough one with Green Woodpeckers as they are quite vocal birds but notoriously difficult to spot, even my last few visits to Dunham has proved to be a no show although I've heard them. Infact, my last few sightings of Green Woodpeckers were mainly by chance whilst not expecting them. My guess is you're not the only one on the forum who hasn't seen them in a while.
...a quick note regarding the Water Voles, as Doc says none reported despite being a well surveyed area, in my opinion probably indicates there are none here as Mammal groups are usually right on top of declining species. Although widespread they are NOT common and are getting rarer. A quick check of my most up to date Mammal site book seems to show what I expected, it favours extensive reedbeds nowadays and especially where Mink numbers are controlled or even eradicated! Cheers Rob
Doc Brewster said
Fri Jan 9 9:52 AM, 2015
Everyone is right, the lane is Novia Scotia Lane and the small cluster of houses is called Novia Scotia, as per the Cheshire A to Z Street Atlas or look at 7 o'clock from the arrow on this Streetmap link
The Big Pool on the N.side of the track that continues W.from Novia Scotia Lane is the pit that the Smew is on.
Ditto Green Woodpecker, hard to see here, not the best place for sightings, much more often heard than seen. For sightings, as mentioned, try Dunham Massey Park or even Dairyhouse Meadows/Neumann's Flash area, I see them q.regularly there
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 9th of January 2015 10:03:25 AM
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jan 8 11:19 PM, 2015
Simon Gough wrote:
Hi to Telesman too, its weird referring to an alias on here by the way, the forum owner Ian normally mandates people use their proper name as their username. I haven't worked out how to pronounce Telesman...
Folk at least get the chance to reply or at least read my private messages to them regarding such matters before I make any changes. I'm not quite the ogre I'm perceived as
Simon Gough said
Thu Jan 8 11:08 PM, 2015
We parked on Novascotia Lane, as Google has it, although Doc Brewster referred to Novia Scotia.
We didn't see any Green Woodpeckers so not convinced there are tips to be had! Only heard them. But the classic place to see them is Dunham Massey Deer Park, which you'd be virtually passing heading from Manchester, generally a couple at least there and lots of other nice stuff too.
Hi to Telesman too, its weird referring to an alias on here by the way, the forum owner Ian normally mandates people use their proper name as their username. I haven't worked out how to pronounce Telesman...
Joel Tragen said
Thu Jan 8 10:35 PM, 2015
Hi I was thinking of heading down at the weekend and would like some tips for seeing the green woodpeckers (I haven't seen any for a while). Also where would be the best place to park the car. Cheers
Doc Brewster said
Tue Jan 6 9:28 PM, 2015
Simon Gough wrote:
Hi,
Rob and I said it would have been nice to meet you on Sunday morning, we were rather in twitch mode and got going fairly soon. I would have liked to have found those green woodpeckers too to be honest. The pukka Iceland Gull in Blackpool was calling us though...
I love the little note about the bus company, always happy to hear nuggets like that.
I'm sure we'll cross paths at some point
I thought exactly the same, Simon, real shame to have missed you & Rob. We were doing a leisurely trawl around local sites so not in twitch mode at all, recovering from the Little Bustard twitch on New Years Day I suppose!! I think we may have been along the west shore when you were there as we saw two birders stood with scopes in East Bay from across the lake, so near & yet so far Next time I hope
Never heard of Water Voles at this site but that's not to say they aren't there, but it is a well surveyed area so it would probably be a new occurance if they were. For future reference if anyone is interested it's a great dragonfly site with Downy Emerald being its speciality, the ride above the fishing pool is the hotspot for them, well worth a look as this is a stunning insect with bright green eyes
Mark Dean said
Tue Jan 6 9:08 PM, 2015
Hi Simon,just seen your post I was one of the Stockport Birders and nice to meet you and Rob. I am new to register so this is my first message. It was indeed a great crisp day and the first time there for us,and very pleased we went,thanks for helping us find the Smew so quick I was expecting it to take much longer! We also heard Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and saw two together so they may have paired up?We also heard on two separate occasions a loud plop into the water,which may of been Water Voles? Not sure if they are around there? Also great to know that there are Yellowhammers about,we saw good views of them including a very bright male at Old Moor reserve last week. All the best and hope to see you again.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 7th of January 2015 11:28:35 PM
Simon Gough said
Tue Jan 6 3:24 PM, 2015
Hi,
Rob and I said it would have been nice to meet you on Sunday morning, we were rather in twitch mode and got going fairly soon. I would have liked to have found those green woodpeckers too to be honest. The pukka Iceland Gull in Blackpool was calling us though...
I love the little note about the bus company, always happy to hear nuggets like that.
I'm sure we'll cross paths at some point
Doc Brewster said
Mon Jan 5 9:34 PM, 2015
It was a bit later than that Simon, you are right. That female Tuftie has been around all winter and as Rob says she makes you look twice as she has an incredible amount of white around her beak, but everything else about her is Tufted Duck and I have seen some like her in the past, especially when Chorlton WP was my old patch in it's heyday of huge aythya flocks
It does look good for Goldeneye but aint seen one there this winter but Teal can get on both Big Pool (which they were when I was there on Sunday - down the cut behind the island) and more often on the smaller fishing pool.
Local info since you bring up the strange road name - Novia Scotia Lane leads to the area called Novia Scotia (never seems to be labelled on many maps as that though) which spawned a local bus company that used to serve our area but Arriva undercut them on all routes and they are now no more, shame really as they were a small local company!! Bit off track but thought I'd drop that bit of Local History in lol
Rob Creek said
Mon Jan 5 12:27 AM, 2015
Simon Gough wrote:
Rob Creek and I went down to see the Smew this morning, arrived at about 10 and there it was no more than 50-60 yards off the bank, seen from one of the little fishing bays at the Eastern end. Smashing little bird, smaller than I expected in fact. Neither Rob nor myself had seen one before. He got some great photos too. As we left the bird was appearing to gravitate more to the open water, it had been hugging the shore over 30 mins or so till then. I guess Doc is talking about later on in the day for an intermission?
Also seen around the lake: 2 Kingfisher Lots of common water birds including a Tufted Duck female with the classic deceptive Scaup-like white on the face No Teal we could see but it didn't look muddy enough for them, also looked good for Goldeneye but we didn't see any
In the trees back on Novascotia Lane (great roadnames in Cheshire...) we heard and saw 2 Nuthatch and heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Green Woodpecker
It is a really nice spot to be honest, and the clean, crisp morning was joyous to be sure.
Further to Simon's post... As stated the red-head Smew was a Lifer for me, that was the start of good things to come. The Smew was constantly diving, within a second of surfacing it was down again, and at first we got very brief views but myself and Simon were right on it. We were joined by 2 Stockport birders (nice to meet you both) who kept missing it but they soon got it!
Other birds of note... -Lots of Wigeon -Plenty of Gadwall including a brightly coloured billed female -Only 2 Pochard (both Drakes) -Great Crested Grebes -lots of Tufted Duck -the female Tufted Duck Simon mentions was well worth another look but she was a Tufted Duck -1 female Shoveler bit further round bank from the Smew -lots of Black-headed Gulls -the 2 Kingfisher chasing each other was a nice sighting
I must admit the 2 Green Woodpeckers we heard 'Yaffling' to each other I didn't expect this early, probably March, but they were in full voice around the farm to the right where we parked up. Also a Yellowhammer calling in the top the tree we we stood under, very loud, but we couldn't see it! A lovely area indeed!
Simon Gough said
Sun Jan 4 10:04 PM, 2015
Rob Creek and I went down to see the Smew this morning, arrived at about 10 and there it was no more than 50-60 yards off the bank, seen from one of the little fishing bays at the Eastern end. Smashing little bird, smaller than I expected in fact. Neither Rob nor myself had seen one before. He got some great photos too. As we left the bird was appearing to gravitate more to the open water, it had been hugging the shore over 30 mins or so till then. I guess Doc is talking about later on in the day for an intermission?
Also seen around the lake: 2 Kingfisher Lots of common water birds including a Tufted Duck female with the classic deceptive Scaup-like white on the face No Teal we could see but it didn't look muddy enough for them, also looked good for Goldeneye but we didn't see any
In the trees back on Novascotia Lane (great roadnames in Cheshire...) we heard and saw 2 Nuthatch and heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Green Woodpecker
It is a really nice spot to be honest, and the clean, crisp morning was joyous to be sure.
Doc Brewster said
Sun Jan 4 9:00 PM, 2015
Redhead Smew still present this morning slap bang in the middle of East Bay on Big Pool. It had been missing for about an hour and a half before it appeared, probably having swum out from under the overhanging vegetation of the large island to the left of East Bay. A nice flock of 5+Bullfinch too, 3 of which stopped in trees and were seen to be stunning males. Lots of Long-tailed Tits about too and Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming and 'chicking' on a sunny, frosty morning, great to be out & about
Doc Brewster said
Sat Jan 3 12:06 PM, 2015
RBA Pager reports Smew still present today
Doc Brewster said
Sat Jan 3 11:03 AM, 2015
No John it's never got across on the smaller fishing pool, chatted to lacal patchers and the info services and they had put out the wrong info, calling Big Pool the 'fishing pool'. See my post earlier for explanation, the small pool has the fishing car parks and is stocked with fish so we know it as the fishing pool. Big Pool has a few carp anglers usually but is known as Big Pool or Large Pit and that is where the Smew always has been. It favours East Bay but can go missing for over an hour at a time in the vegetation at the fringes of the island on the left. It was there yesterday & I will be going tomorrow so will report back. Hope to see you & Liz around
John Watson said
Fri Jan 2 5:22 PM, 2015
No Smew at 15:45 from the small peninsular - I gather it sometimes visits the smaller Fishing Pool but not today. Any other favourite spots ?
Doc Brewster said
Fri Jan 2 11:34 AM, 2015
Just had customers in who tell me they have been watching the redhead Smew again today in its usual location in East Bay on Big Pool
Doc Brewster said
Thu Jan 1 9:54 PM, 2015
Good to know it is still about Richard, my planned New Years Day start there was rudely interrupted by a Little Bustard turning up in Yorkshire which I had to twitch today
richard howells 2 said
Thu Jan 1 5:31 PM, 2015
The redhead Smew was still resident this morning around 0900. It was in the middle and towards the small peninsula that comes in from the SE side. Also a Green Woodpecker was about. No sign of Velvet Scoter.
-- Edited by richard howells 2 on Thursday 1st of January 2015 05:31:52 PM
Doc Brewster said
Wed Dec 31 10:43 PM, 2014
With news yesterday of a juvenile Velvet Scoter on Newchurch Common Big Lake I popped down again to see if it had stayed overnight. Several folk were there but no sign of the scoter, a shame that it didn't linger into 2015 for a good year tick. The redhead Smew was in its usual bay on the eastern side of the Big Pool showing well at pretty close range. Viewed from the eastern shoreline I have seen this bird several times and with patience close views can usually be obtained. Access isn't bad around the lake, but I go there regularly and its a bit off piste in places, wellies are recommended!
This water is only a mile or so from my house but I usually only visit for dragonflies (Downy Emerald is a speciality here) but hopefully can clarify directions for others. The two main pools lie either side of the track running down form the roadside parking at Novia Scotia. Locally the lefthand pool is know as the Fishing Pool/Pit, as it has two fishermans car parks adjacent to it and is a stocked lake so is the preferential fishing lake. The pool on the right is known as the Big Pool/Large Pit and is usually fished mainly by carp anglers. The ducks favour Big Pool, and the Smew has never left this pool during its recent stay. Some info networks have put out its location as fishing pool and folk there today expressed their confusion over this, a couple going straight to the smaller pit in error. If anyone is heading down for New Year ticks the Big Pool is on the RHS, the Smew is in the E.Bay and other species on this pit include Tufted Duck, Pochard, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe, Dabchick and Cormorant with Siskins, Bullfinches and Redwings in the lakeside alders. The grid ref for the middle of Big Pool is SJ605691, hope this explanation helps
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 31st of December 2014 10:44:16 PM
Mark Burgess said
Tue Dec 30 2:01 PM, 2014
Smew still present this morning at extreme eastern end of lake, If your planning a visit best take a scope as its a large piece of water and didn't look to have great access around complete perimeter.
Chris Harper said
Sat Dec 27 6:43 PM, 2014
Redhead Smew still in Eastern part of fishing pool at 11.15 From Sandy Way/Nova Scotia Way along path and pool on the right. Also many Wigeon, Little Grebe, Gadwall, Peregrine Falcon Common Buzzard and Bullfinch.
Andrew Mitchell said
Wed Dec 24 11:02 AM, 2014
Smew showing well yesterday at about 3pm off the eastern bank - about 20-30 feet out.
Also lots of Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Mallard, loads of Coot and a few Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe. Around the pool some small flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare.
Rhys Richards said
Sun Dec 21 6:55 PM, 2014
Smew showed well this morning from the eastern corner of the pool. Lets hope it stays for another couple of weeks!!!!
richard howells 2 said
Tue Dec 16 11:09 PM, 2014
A fishing pool a mile or so south of Sandiway, best accessed from the Nova Scotia Lane/Sandy Lane end (the east end). Redhead Smew fishing at the western end close up against the bank at 1530 today. Been there a couple of days. Another birder there intimated that it had been at Astbury Mere and Westport Lake previously
Glad I took my big scope today as the Smew was way off on the north bank of the north lake. Took half an hour to find. Never been to this site before but it's ringed with trees and bushes and only the anglers' pitches provide any decent viewing. Kingfisher amongst other common species seen
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Tuesday 27th of October 2015 08:52:59 PM
Early morning visit again to the common. The female Smew was still present out in the middle if the big pool N.of the main track, constantly diving & feeding with a small group of Tufted Ducks, and was a pain to find, taking over an hour to locate, it could have been tucked under bankside vegetation initially too. Its favoured bay was heavily fished this morning hence its relocation to a different part of the pool. At least 12 Wigeon were present as well as 2+Little Grebes and 6 Great Crseted Grebes. 2 Redwings flew over and both Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers were present. 11 Lapwings flew over the small pool and a Kingfisher flew over the big pool. Common Gull numbers seem to be increasing with plenty of Black-headed Gulls too, maybe time for a Mediterranean Gull methinks
The other usual birds were around with Jays especially plentiful, both seen & heard. A pleasant morning in the sun on my 'new' patch!!
No problem John
I agree it is a female Smew, been there 3 winters (if you read back in my posts!!). The pagers tend to like to put 'redhead', I put it out as female on my grapevine. There have been several reports from Cheshire sites for a number of years now regarding Ruddy Shelducks & we don't know whether they refer to more than one bird, so hard to say which this one is.
The fishermen in the E.bay viewing location had been there from early doors, how dare they
A walk a bit further round gives a great viewing location from another fishing peg.
- Smew (smart redhead, presumably female if it is the same bird as last winter)
- Ruddy Shelduck (female, presumably the same female as at Winsford Bottom Flash last winter)
Both birds drifting about N Pool, west side, though we saw them from NE corner. Note, fishermen occupying usual East Bay location. Birds could be viewed close-up from W side
Also:
- Green Woodpecker (h)
- 2 Fieldfare & Squirrel in small tree across field from Eastern parking spot
Thanks for the news, Doc
-- Edited by John Watson on Monday 26th of October 2015 08:45:04 AM
Saw on the pagers a report of a drake Bufflehead in Cumbria and was tempted, but seeing as it wasn't a lifer & the escape potential was high we decided to do a 'local patch' walk instead. A good decision as it turns out as the Bufflehead bore a plastic ring marking it as an escape!
Got down pretty early to Newchurch Common and soon located the redhead Smew lurking in the edge of the SW corner of the Big Lake, it later was feeding out in the middle performing for the relatively large numbers of birders & photographers on site today, the biggest number that I have ever seen down there!! A scan of the lake soon had my second 'find' of the autumn/winter in the shape of a Ruddy Shelduck with the Canada Geese. Again later on the assembled throng seemed to be enjoying this bird too. Bothe scarce ducks were duly reported in to RBA Pagers once I could get mobile reception (which for me is q.patchy across this site).
Other birds of note were 3 Fieldfares flying over (my first this winter end), a Green Woodpecker again in its usual area, 2 or possibly 3 Kingfishers, 12 Wigeon, 10 Gadwall, 8 Cormorants, 5 Great Crested Grebes & 4 Little Grebes. Usuals included Common Gull, Jay, increased numbers of Tufted Ducks, 2 Greylag Geese and a Buzzard.
That's 2 good ducks found so far this year end, looking forward to more visits
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 25th of October 2015 01:19:22 PM
Had a message texted to me to say that the redhead Smew was still present on the Big Pool N.of the main track here today
Over 50 Redwings were flying about over the track as well as 20+Goldfinch and a mixed tit flock containing lots of Long-tailed Tits. A Robin was chasing a Migrant Hawker Dragonfly in the west fishermans car park with no chance of catching it! I walked to other viewpoints to see more of the Big Lake & eventually found the redhead Smew tucked away near the overhanging vegetation in the bay at the SE end of the lake. Settling down on a nearby fishing peg I enjoyed stunning close views and got some nice pics of this scarce sawbill. Despite a thorough search no sign of Joel's Scaup and even my very white-faced Tufted Ducks had left the lake, leaving this samller flock behind. Hopefully the Scaup will return when more Tufted Ducks return, I'll keep an eye out for that and any other goodies. Other birds on the lake were the usual suspects, Grea Crested Grebes (feeding a well grown young bird with several sizeable fish!), hundreds of Coot, 60 Canada Geese and a few Common Gulls amongst the Black-headed Gulls.
The Smew was still in the same bay when I left at 11.55am, and the only significant additions to the daylist were Nuthatch and Bullfinch, both by the main track. I intend to keep an eye on the site all winter now since the 'Marbury Patch' has enough dedicated watchers!! Hope to meet a few more Forum Members down there, please say hello & we can do some birding together I hope
On a more flippant note, Joel, what type of jugs did the 7 Mute Swans have?
1:50 till 5:00
The red headed smew was first viewed asleep in the middle of the pool and to the western side of the middle but the way I found it was unusual...
So I arrived and went straight to the area sticking out on the east side to eat lunch and scan the lake with the best panoramic view. As I arrived I quickly picked up on a pale aythya in the east bay, I decided to move around the lake to the middle of the east bay and got great views of it. I got some nice photos which were later identified as a first winter drake greater scaup. As I was watching I noticed the smew behind it which I thendecided to move around the lake to the south side where it had apparently woken up and was feeding in the east bay. I rushed around to the best point on. The east side and saw it fishing 2 meters out from the shore.
Other birds of note.
2 little grebes
7 great crested grebes
7 common gulls
19 black headed gullsl
A pair of gadwall
2 female wigeon
7 mute swans with 2 jugs and I accidentally stumbled across a headless swan with its chest ripped open, couldn't see legs or rings.
9 moorhens
Many coots
1 greylag goose
37 Canada geese
78 tufted ducks
7 mallards
As I arrived 3 cormorants which circled high above the lake flying off South.
19 lapwings flew off from a field South of the lake circled very low over the lake before landing on the field North.
1 kingfisher
179+ redwing (it was all I could fit into on photo.) flew over circled and landed on a field to the east.
1 fieldfare
1 kestrel
Brilliant day out and I must visit this site a lot more this winter than last.
redhead smew, showing well in the northern corner of the big pool (where I came in from) & spent most of the time along the western side throughout the time I was there.
89 tufted duck
302+ coot
5 wigeon
3 teal
1 gadwall
50 Canada goose
3 greylag goose
9 mute swan, 1 adult attacking a juvenile & trying to get on its back, I presume to try & drown it, it got away eventually.
9 great crested grebe
3 little grebe
1 buzzard
1 sparrowhawk
4 cormorant
1 great spotted woodpecker
green woodpecker, heard only
2 treecreeper
5 jay
2 lapwing, over
73 redwing
3 fieldfare
2 pied wagtail
1 grey wagtail
4 bullfinch
5 chaffinch
2 linnet
8 siskin
several goldcrest around
plus all the usuals.
Little Grebe 1
Great Crested Grebes
Tufted Ducks
Wigeons 15+
Skylark 1 singing.
Siskins
Goldcrests
Green Woodpecker 1
Nuthatch 1
Coots
Mute Swans
Greylag Geese
Buzzard 1
etc.etc.etc.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 16th of October 2015 09:15:25 PM
Not wanting to head out too far, after coming down with a horrid cold but wanting to make the most of the October sunshine, we headed out to Newchurch Common again. The star bird by far was a redhead Smew, the returning bird from last winter in with the growing Tufted Duck flock. A single Wigeon was in the same flock, all on the Big Pool north of the track through the site that continues on from Novia Scotia Lane, where you park. So that is the usual spot for anyone who went last winter! Also on this pool were Great Crested Grebes with well grown young, Little Grebes and a Cormorant. On the smaller fishing pool south of the track there were a couple of Gadwall, more Tufted Ducks and a Common Gull with the Black-headed Gulls. Plenty of Jays were in evidence in this oak-rich area and a yaffling Green Woodpecker flew over the main track.
As winter progresses this site will keep getting better, and I will keep checking it, but nice to see that the Smew is already back in residence
Best bird was a Cuckoo, calling very frequently all the time I was on site and showing over the Big Pool (the one the Smew favoured) moving between the bankside trees and the island several times. At the SW corner of the Fishing Pool a Garden warbler was singing and showed well in the willows. A Sedge Warbler was singing by the entrance track but only as I arrived, not when I left. Several Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs made up the complement of warblers for the day. Other birds of note were flyover singles of Curlew and Lapwing and on the pools Great Crested and Little Grebes.
Mainly usuals including...
Plenty of Blackbirds
Robins
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Rooks
Jay (2 heard, 1 seen)
2 Common Buzzard - both perched up in separate trees
1 Bullfinch
Few Chaffinch
Great Crested Grebe at least 4
Gadwall
Tufted Duck
Lots of Woodpigeon
Green Woodpecker (heard only)
1 Great Black-backed Gull
I noticed the same thing that only one of them had a tuft it would be interesting to get a photo of her to have a better look at.
Well done Joel on the Green Woodpecker!
Thanks to the couple who pointed out the Smew to me, it was tucked into the NW corner of the pool and I was focussing too much on
the area around the island. I later followed the path further along the Eastern bank and got great views of the bird.
Also on the pool, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Little Grebe, 60+ Wigeon, 11 Great Crested Grebes and a single drake Pochard.
2 Buzzards flew over and flushed all the gulls. 30 Redwings were resting with Starlings on a nearby big oak.
A charm of 16 Goldfinches on the alders.
Amongst the Tufted Ducks were the 2 females with prominent white bases to their beaks, one certainly shows a tuft, the other has a much
rounder/smoother head. If only she stayed on the surface long enough to check her other features.
It's the first time I've been to this mere and I'm impressed by the amount of waterfowl, and by the extensive area of gorse in the NE corner.
I'll be back.
I went down there today and after a hour of searching around we finally found the smew with a group of tufted ducks.
Other birds of note were:
1 female green woodpecker(I got two photos but they aren't very good)
17 stock doves (in a field with around 300 jackdaws and a large mixed thrush flock)
1 shelduck
2 bullfinchs
1 goldcrest
1 nuthatch
2 jays
5 great crested grebe
10 teal
Lots of wigeon
8 gadwall
2 cormarants
1 headless black headed gull and a dead coot.
Lots of tufted duck including the one that has been mentioned however there is now 2 of them.
2 buzzards.
Joel look back at my last post there's a link to Streetmap & it says which pool the Smew is on, it IS the largest pool, N.of or to the R.of the main track that continues on from Novia Scotia Lane. No news was put out but I heard on a grapevine that it was there yesterday. Hope this helps
This follows on from an incident I believe they had a few years back where a Beech tree was blown over and killed someone (from what I remember?)
All the best and Good Birding from Mark
-- Edited by Joel Tragen on Friday 9th of January 2015 10:13:36 PM
As regards Green woodpecker I know that they can be surprisingly hard to see.I remember scanning around some anthills where they are known to be,and not seeing any,so walked on when one flew up from where I had been looking,give out it's call,and landed on a tree where it stayed still allowing me to get good views,so I could not see it on the ground at all.It is in fact, either in a tree or flying where I have seen them,I don't think ever on the ground.
Good Birding to everyone.
Forgot to say we parked our car at the end of Nova Scotia Lane,there is a bit of a lay by there with room for maybe 4 or 5 cars or so.
-- Edited by TELESMAN on Friday 9th of January 2015 07:40:41 PM
Hi Joel,
As Simon and Doc mention its a tough one with Green Woodpeckers as they are quite vocal birds but notoriously difficult to spot, even my last few visits to Dunham has proved to be a no show although I've heard them. Infact, my last few sightings of Green Woodpeckers were mainly by chance whilst not expecting them. My guess is you're not the only one on the forum who hasn't seen them in a while.
...a quick note regarding the Water Voles, as Doc says none reported despite being a well surveyed area, in my opinion probably indicates there are none here as Mammal groups are usually right on top of declining species. Although widespread they are NOT common and are getting rarer. A quick check of my most up to date Mammal site book seems to show what I expected, it favours extensive reedbeds nowadays and especially where Mink numbers are controlled or even eradicated!
Cheers
Rob
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=362500&y=369500&z=120&sv=whitegate&st=3&tl=Map+of+Whitegate,+Cheshire+[City/Town/Village]&searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf
The Big Pool on the N.side of the track that continues W.from Novia Scotia Lane is the pit that the Smew is on.
Ditto Green Woodpecker, hard to see here, not the best place for sightings, much more often heard than seen. For sightings, as mentioned, try Dunham Massey Park or even Dairyhouse Meadows/Neumann's Flash area, I see them q.regularly there
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 9th of January 2015 10:03:25 AM
Folk at least get the chance to reply or at least read my private messages to them regarding such matters before I make any changes. I'm not quite the ogre I'm perceived as
We didn't see any Green Woodpeckers so not convinced there are tips to be had! Only heard them. But the classic place to see them is Dunham Massey Deer Park, which you'd be virtually passing heading from Manchester, generally a couple at least there and lots of other nice stuff too.
Hi to Telesman too, its weird referring to an alias on here by the way, the forum owner Ian normally mandates people use their proper name as their username. I haven't worked out how to pronounce Telesman...
I thought exactly the same, Simon, real shame to have missed you & Rob. We were doing a leisurely trawl around local sites so not in twitch mode at all, recovering from the Little Bustard twitch on New Years Day I suppose!! I think we may have been along the west shore when you were there as we saw two birders stood with scopes in East Bay from across the lake, so near & yet so far
Never heard of Water Voles at this site but that's not to say they aren't there, but it is a well surveyed area so it would probably be a new occurance if they were. For future reference if anyone is interested it's a great dragonfly site with Downy Emerald being its speciality, the ride above the fishing pool is the hotspot for them, well worth a look as this is a stunning insect with bright green eyes
I am new to register so this is my first message.
It was indeed a great crisp day and the first time there for us,and very pleased we went,thanks for helping us find the Smew so quick I was expecting it to take much longer!
We also heard Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and saw two together so they may have paired up?We also heard on two separate occasions a loud plop into the water,which may of been Water Voles? Not sure if they are around there? Also great to know that there are Yellowhammers about,we saw good views of them including a very bright male at Old Moor reserve last week.
All the best and hope to see you again.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 7th of January 2015 11:28:35 PM
Rob and I said it would have been nice to meet you on Sunday morning, we were rather in twitch mode and got going fairly soon. I would have liked to have found those green woodpeckers too to be honest. The pukka Iceland Gull in Blackpool was calling us though...
I love the little note about the bus company, always happy to hear nuggets like that.
I'm sure we'll cross paths at some point
It does look good for Goldeneye but aint seen one there this winter but Teal can get on both Big Pool (which they were when I was there on Sunday - down the cut behind the island) and more often on the smaller fishing pool.
Local info since you bring up the strange road name - Novia Scotia Lane leads to the area called Novia Scotia (never seems to be labelled on many maps as that though) which spawned a local bus company that used to serve our area but Arriva undercut them on all routes and they are now no more, shame really as they were a small local company!! Bit off track but thought I'd drop that bit of Local History in lol
Further to Simon's post...
As stated the red-head Smew was a Lifer for me, that was the start of good things to come.
The Smew was constantly diving, within a second of surfacing it was down again, and at first we got very brief views but myself and Simon were right on it. We were joined by 2 Stockport birders (nice to meet you both) who kept missing it but they soon got it!
Other birds of note...
-Lots of Wigeon
-Plenty of Gadwall including a brightly coloured billed female
-Only 2 Pochard (both Drakes)
-Great Crested Grebes
-lots of Tufted Duck
-the female Tufted Duck Simon mentions was well worth another look but she was a Tufted Duck
-1 female Shoveler bit further round bank from the Smew
-lots of Black-headed Gulls
-the 2 Kingfisher chasing each other was a nice sighting
I must admit the 2 Green Woodpeckers we heard 'Yaffling' to each other I didn't expect this early, probably March, but they were in full voice around the farm to the right where we parked up.
Also a Yellowhammer calling in the top the tree we we stood under, very loud, but we couldn't see it!
A lovely area indeed!
Also seen around the lake:
2 Kingfisher
Lots of common water birds including a Tufted Duck female with the classic deceptive Scaup-like white on the face
No Teal we could see but it didn't look muddy enough for them, also looked good for Goldeneye but we didn't see any
In the trees back on Novascotia Lane (great roadnames in Cheshire...) we heard and saw 2 Nuthatch and heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Green Woodpecker
It is a really nice spot to be honest, and the clean, crisp morning was joyous to be sure.
-- Edited by richard howells 2 on Thursday 1st of January 2015 05:31:52 PM
This water is only a mile or so from my house but I usually only visit for dragonflies (Downy Emerald is a speciality here) but hopefully can clarify directions for others. The two main pools lie either side of the track running down form the roadside parking at Novia Scotia. Locally the lefthand pool is know as the Fishing Pool/Pit, as it has two fishermans car parks adjacent to it and is a stocked lake so is the preferential fishing lake. The pool on the right is known as the Big Pool/Large Pit and is usually fished mainly by carp anglers. The ducks favour Big Pool, and the Smew has never left this pool during its recent stay. Some info networks have put out its location as fishing pool and folk there today expressed their confusion over this, a couple going straight to the smaller pit in error. If anyone is heading down for New Year ticks the Big Pool is on the RHS, the Smew is in the E.Bay and other species on this pit include Tufted Duck, Pochard, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe, Dabchick and Cormorant with Siskins, Bullfinches and Redwings in the lakeside alders. The grid ref for the middle of Big Pool is SJ605691, hope this explanation helps
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 31st of December 2014 10:44:16 PM
From Sandy Way/Nova Scotia Way along path and pool on the right.
Also many Wigeon, Little Grebe, Gadwall, Peregrine Falcon Common Buzzard and Bullfinch.
Also lots of Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Mallard, loads of Coot and a few Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe. Around the pool some small flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare.